Type species: Elaps collaris SCHLEGEL 1837 is the type species of the genus Leptomicrurus SCHMIDT 1937.

The genus Leptomicrurus was erected by Schmidt (1937) to accomodate two species of exceptionally slender, short-tailed coralsnakes, L. collaris (Schlegel) and L. narduccii (Jan). These are distinguished from members of the genus Micrurus on the basis of having the mental scale in contact posteriorly with the anterior chinshields, and possessing a body pattern not including rings or bands. Leptomicrurus was interpreted variously with regard to L. collaris (Schmidt 1937, Brongersma 1966, 1967), and Schmidt’s genus was relegated to a junior synonym of Micrurus when specimens of Leptomicrurus with some complete rings and specimens of Micrurus with anterior chinshields in contact with the mental were discovered (Romano 1972). Leptomicrurus has been revalidated and its three species redefined (Roze and Bernal-Carlo 1988). We maintain the synonymy of Leptomicrurus as it nests within Micrurus (CASTOE et al. 2007). Castoe et al. did not synonymize it with Micrurus because “the larger plan was that eventually Micrurus would likely be split into multiple genera, ultimately rectifying Leptomicrurus”, which has not happened (T. Castoe, pers. comm. 7 Jan 2014).